254 OMNIVOROUS BIRDS. 



bird which I brought up, destitute of the red appendages 

 on the wings, when threatened, elevated his crest, looked 

 angry, and repeatedly snapped with his bill. 



Almost all kinds of sweet berries are sought for food by 

 the American waxen-wing. In search of whortle-berries, 

 they retire in Pennsylvania to the western mountain 

 chains of the Alleghany range ; and in autumn, until the 

 approach of winter, they are equally attached to the ber- 

 ries of the Virginia juniper,* as well as those of the 

 sour-gum tree, and the w^ax-myrtle. They also feed, 

 late in the season, on ripe persimmons, f small winter 

 grapes, bird-cherries, the fruit of the Pride of China, and 

 other fruits. The kernels and seeds of these, uninjured 

 by the action of the stomach, are strewed about, and thus 

 accidentally planted in abundance wherever these birds 

 frequent. Like their prototype, the preceding species, the 

 migrations, and time and place of breeding are influenc- 

 ed by their supply of food. In the spring of the pre- 

 sent year (1831), they arrived in this vicinity, as usual, 

 but, in consequence of the failure of cherries, scarcely 

 any have bred here, to my knowledge, and very few were 

 either to be heard or seen in the vicinity. In this part 

 of New England this bird is frequently known by the 

 name of the Canada Robin, and by the French Canadians 

 it is fancifully called Recollct, from the color of its crest 

 resembling that of the hood of this religious order. 



The length of our bird varies from 7^ to full 8 inches, so that at 

 times it arrives at the full size of the European species. Head, neck, 

 breast, back, and wing-coverts of a brownish-grey ; becoming darker 

 on the back, and brightest on the front and elevated crest. A deep 

 black line from the nostril over the eye to the hind-head, bordered 



* Improperly called Red Cedar. 



\ In many parts of Georgia, and particularly the vicinity of Milledgeville, these 

 trees are observed to spring up in whole groves on cleared or burnt lands, and this 

 Towth must undoubtedly be due to the dissemination produced by these birds. 



